Prevalence of pseudohyperkalemia in patients with chronic renal disease in hemodialysis therapy

Abstract

Objective: determine if to prolonged hyperkalemia in hemodialysis patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) contributes significantly the presence of pseudohyperkalemia (difference between serum to plasma potassium greater than 0.5 mEq/L) Patients: those with CKD on hemodialysis therapy for more than 12 months duration in whom persistent hyperkalemia is detected for more than three months. Materials and methods: simultaneous determination of serum and plasma potassium and in addition the variables serum sodium, arterial blood gases, complete blood count, fasting blood glucose, Kt / v and electrocardiogram Results: in 110 patients evaluated 17 met the inclusion criteria. In 13 of them (76.47%) we detected pseudohyperkalemia and in 4 (23.52%) true hyperkalemia (difference between serum to plasma potasium less than 0.5 mEq / L ). No significant differences between groups in the variables analyzed were detected. Conclusion: the pseudohyperkalemia represents a very important percentage of the report of hiperkalemias in CKD patients on hemodialysis therapy, and ideally plasma potasium has to be determined always in these patients. (Acta Med Colomb 2013; 38: 12-15).